Pets for Life taking over shelter duties for county
by Brent Shrum, Kootenai Valley Record
June 5, 2009
Kootenai Pets for Life will soon be taking over the care and housing of stray and abandoned animals in south Lincoln County under an agreement approved last week by the county commissioners.
The commissioners agreed Wednesday to a $22,800 one-year contract with KPFL to provide shelter services starting July 1. The new KPFL shelter along City Services Road near the county’s animal control facility is nearing completion, said organization president Eileen Carney.
"Probably within a month we could be ready, I hope," Carney said.
The county employs an animal control officer but does not currently have a shelter officer, said environmental health department head Kathi Hooper. The cost of replacing the shelter officer would be $26,700, she said.
Once KPFL begins operations at the new shelter, the county’s facility will be closed to the public. The facility would still be used for aggressive and quarantined animals, Hooper said.
KPFL will take responsibility for the housing, medical needs and adoption of all other animals picked up by the county or turned in by citizens. Animals obtained from the county will be held for 72 hours, after which they will become the property of KPFL.
KPFL will sell licenses for the county, with all fees turned over to the county. Adoption fees will be kept by KPFL to support shelter operations and the group’s spay and neuter program.
"It looks like a win-win situation," said Commissioner Marianne Roose. "I think it’s great."
Commissioner John Konzen congratulated KPFL on its work to get the new shelter up and running.
"You guys have done a great job scrounging and begging," he said. "You’re to be commended."
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Editor’s Note: See the June 2, 2009 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, now on Tuesday, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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